What's On Your Nightstand?

It's the fourth Tuesday of the month, and it's time for What's On Your Nightstand?.

I wonder how well I'll do? Help!

Death Perception

I’ve been a fan of this series since the very first book. And I wish they come out quicker.

Here’s the blurb of the latest book of Psychic Eye series by Victoria Laurie, Death Perception:

It took a while for Abby Cooper’s FBI agent boyfriend, Dutch Rivers, to accept her psychic gifts as the real deal. But these days he knows better than to question Abby’s visions. So when his cousin Chase is kidnapped after a bloody shoot-out in a Vegas alleyway, he agrees that her clairvoyant skills could be invaluable, and they both catch the next flight to Sin City.

Abby’s inner eye insists that Chase is still alive, but nothing else about the case adds up—especially Dutch’s reluctance to involve his own Bureau. On top of everything, Dutch is battling a mysterious illness, and Abby keeps having disturbing dreams that predict his death. Dutch wants Abby to promise that if the investigation goes south, she’ll head home to safety. But when the chips are down, Abby won’t fold without a fight...

What do you get when you add a quirky psychic, a hunky FBI agent, a visit to Vegas, a kidnapping, a corrupt agent, a dragon lady and a parade of interesting characters? An awesome book!

I could not put this book down. I devoured it! I sat down with it and completely forgot about everything. All I wanted to do was read.

I think this book just may be the best of the series. The characters were great (as usual), Dutch and Abby’s bickering was as amusing and kind hearted as ever, Candice’s spunk and fierceness was wonderful and Cat, I really love Cat, as usual she was hilarious, and over protective of her sister. My only complaint was that I didn’t to “see” Milo, Dave and Eggy.

Death Perception by Victoria Laurie (4.5/5) Mystery; Paranormal: Psychic; Published: Obsidian (9/08); Series: # 6, Psychic Eye; 100 + Reading Challenge (76);

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Monday, October 27th 2008

Outside my Window...It's raining, again! Will it ever stop?

I am thinking...I better get something for this sinus headache.

From the learning rooms...S has a math test today, I'm sure she'll do just fine, and K was excited about the craft that he was working on.

I am thankful for...Bobo is doing well after his surgery, and is at home resting. Who would of thought that a cat would give so much worry?

From the kitchen...Roast chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans.

I am wearing...Blue jeans, black t-shirt and ankle chenille socks. Comfy wear!

I am reading...Flower Net by Lisa See

I am hoping...That we have good weather for Halloween.

I am creating...I'm knitting a sweater for my husband.

I am hearing...I'm listening to an audiobook, The Highlander's Touch by Karen Marie Moning.

Around the house...I have laundry to wash, ironing to do and many more things...I just don't want to think about it.

One of my favorite things...Earl Grey tea and cranberry scones for an afternoon snack, which I'll be having this afternoon.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Put Halloween decorations up, get the treat bags ready, and pick up my cat ears for my costume.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...



To see more Daybook entries, click here!

Sci-Fi Movies & Books Meme

I saw this one at Aneca's and I just had to join. It looked like a lot of fun.

Here are the rules:

1. Copy the list below.
2. Mark in bold the movie titles for which you’ve read the book.
3. Italicize the ones that you’ve watched.
4. Tag 5 people to perpetuate the meme.

Here's the list:

1. Jurassic Park
2. War of the Worlds
3. The Lost World
4. I, Robot
5. Contact
6. Congo
7. Cocoon
8. The Stepford Wives
9. The Time Machine
10. Starship Troopers
11. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
12. K-PAX
13. 2010
14. The Running Man
15. Sphere
16. The Mothman Prophecies
17. Dreamcatcher
18. Blade Runner
19. Dune
20. The Island of Dr. Moreau
21. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
22. The Iron Giant
23. Battlefield Earth
24. The Incredible Shrinking Woman
25. Fire in the Sky
26. Altered States
27. Timeline
28. The Postman
29. Freejack
30. Solaris
31. Memoirs of an Invisible Man
32. The Thing
33. The Thirteenth Floor
34. Lifeforce
35. Deadly Friend
36. The Puppet Masters
37. 1984
38. A Scanner Darkly
39. Creator
40. Monkey Shines
41. Solo
42. The Handmaid’s Tale
43. Communion
44. Carnosaur
45. From Beyond
46. Nightflyers
47. Watchers
48. Body Snatchers

Like the previous post I won't be tagging anyone, please feel free to join in the fun.

Six + Seven Random Things About Me

I've been tagged! The lovely Ana has tagged me to do Six + Seven Random Things About Me.

Here are the rules:

1. Link back to the one who tagged you, write these rules in your post.
2. Post 6 or 7 facts about yourself, positive, negative or just plain weird!
3. Tag 6 or 7 people at the end of the post by name and blog link.
4. Let them know they were tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Random Things About Me:

1. As a child I was painfully shy. I was the type of child that would hide so I wouldn't have to play with other children at family gatherings. Eventually I grew out of the shyness, well not completely, I can still be shy.

2. Growing up I spent most of my summers in Portugal. My parents are Portuguese, and they emigrated to Canada when I was three. They have a house in Pataias, where my father was born.

3. I'm fluent in Portuguese both spoken and written. I took Portuguese throughout school. At one point I considered going to University in Portugal.

4. I love to eat. No, it's really a love affair of sorts. I love trying different foods. But, I live with a bunch of picky eaters, so I can only experiment when we go out to eat.

5. I used to work at a bank. The branch was in a busy mall. Although I loved my job, I hated the location. Craziness! Let's not get into holiday shopping...I cringe at the thought.

6. I'm addicted to nail polish! I love, love, love it! I keep my finger nails with a french tip, but my toe nails are always brightly polished. I absolutely love OPI and their new line, Nicole. I'm wearing Change The World, it's a gorgeous magenta.

7. Another addiction: handbags! I really would like to get this one, but it will have to wait.

and

8. I occasionally like to break rules. So I won't be tagging anyone for this, but if you want to join the fun feel free to add this meme to your blog. And don't forget to let me know...

So You Think You Can Dance Canada

Here are my favorites dances of last nights episode of So You Think You Can Dance Canada:

Nico & Arassay, dancing contemporary:



Allie & Danny, dancing the quick step:



You can find them here and here.

Tempted By The Night

A Secret Admirer . . .

They say he's a shameless rake who cares for nothing but pleasure, a rogue who spends his nights in London's lustiest locales, gambling and carousing until dawn. But Lady Hermione Marlowe refuses to believe that the handsome gentleman she's loved from afar for so long could be so wicked. If only she had a way to prove to the ton that Lord Rockhurst is as proper as the rest. If only she knew what he really did under cover of the night . . .

A Clandestine Encounter . . .

Lord Rockhurst knows what they say about him, and he doesn't care. Let them think his nights are filled with craven debauchery. Only he knows his true purpose, his dangerous goal. But when a mysterious woman falls into his arms—and thereby saves his life—Rockhurst will struggle to save his secret. Who is this creature with such tempting curves and an enticing touch? Rockhurst can only wonder how he can trust her . . . for he knows he cannot resist her.

I was expecting a straight forward historical romance, but I got a little surprise...it's a paranormal as well. It does seem that more authors are jumping on the paranormal bandwagon, some I've been turned off by, but this one I was pleasantly surprised.

The characters are wonderful. Hermione/Shadow, the heroine is shy (at least with the hero), curious, funny and also has a very quick temper - she reminds me of someone!. Rockhurst, the hero, is considered to be a rake, but he has his own little masquerade going on. He alone is the protector against those things that go bump in the night. His only companion is his wolfhound Rowan, well, until Hermione stumbles upon the truth.

It was only after I started reading the book that I found out it was the second of a series. I'm not sure if I'll read the first book, but I'll definitely be looking (hoping) for more of "those" Marlowe's.

Tempted by the Night by Elizabeth Boyle (4.5/5) Historical Romance; Paranormal; Published: Avon (9/08); Series: # 2, Marlowe; 100 + Reading Challenge (75); Library book;

Seduction of a Proper Gentleman

Here I go again, into a theme that I don't care for, but I enjoy the author's books.

Here's the blurb for Seduction of a Proper Gentleman by Victoria Alexander:

To break a centuries-old curse, beautiful, headstrong Lady Kathleen MacDavid knows she must ignore every rule of propriety by seducing—and marrying—the Earl of Norcroft. So she sets off for London, braving scandal and ruin to achieve her goal . . . until a crazy bump on the head makes her forget nearly everything.

The thrill of winning a bet—that he'd be the last of his set to wed—hasn't eased the earl's pain of losing his friends to marriage. Still, he'd be willing to settle down if he could meet someone worthy of his love—and desire. But he has met no such woman, until Kathleen is brought to him. Suspicious of her motives, he's determined to resist her seductive ways. But sometimes even the most proper gentleman finds it expedient to act improperly . . .

With this book, I really didn't know what I was getting into until I was reading it. I read the blurb, and I thought it had potential, and it also had a bonus point: Victoria Alexander. I have several of her books in my keeper shelf. And those keepers are actually the ones that I try to re-read every once in a while.

I gave it a try. And surprise (at least to me)! I actually enjoyed it. The amnesia doesn't appear until several chapters into the story. And the way the author wrote it, didn't make it sound silly or over embellished.

It had it all! A curse, amnesia, a reluctant hero, and endearing mother and a wonderful heroine. But mostly it had magic! The good type!

Seduction of a Proper Gentleman by Victoria Alexander (4/5) Historical Romance; Published: Avon (9/08); Series: # 4, Last Man Standing; 100 + Reading Challenge (74); Library book;

Kids' Picks

It's the third Tuesday of the month, and it's Kids' Picks time, over at 5 Minutes for Books.

My kids are reading:





Last month S's teacher began reading the first Harry Potter as they out-loud reading in class. S enjoyed it so much, she starting reading the series on her own at home. Right now, she two thirds into the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . I asked her what she thought of the series, and I quote: "It's the best series, ever!".








K's just starting to read. An unlike his sister he is not a fan of it. He loves being to read to, but he doesn't want to read. He says I do a better job of it. Cute! Anyway, he's been reading When I Am Big by Mary Packard, and he's actually enjoying it.




And together we've been reading The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons and I Like Pumpkins by Jerry Smath.

The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount

Julia London is another must read author for me. She’s been a favorite since I started reading the genre. And unlike some authors, her transition to contemporary was wonderful, but I still prefer her historical novels.

Here’s the blurb for The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount:

Lady Phoebe Fairchild is well aware that the ton would be appalled to learn of a young lady of quality involved in a trade. Therefore, she resorts to selling her beautiful handmade gowns under a fictitious name: Madame Dupree. So when circumstances force her to visit the estate of William Darby, the Viscount of Summerfield, to design ball gowns for his sisters, she assumes Madame’s identity. Phoebe’s discomfort in her new position as hired help is nothing compared to her visceral attraction to the viscount himself.

Heathenishly handsome and shamelessly seductive, Will invites her to be his mistress—and Phoebe is shockingly tempted to accept. But as their desire for one another grows, and the risk of exposure becomes even greater, Phoebe is in dire danger of losing her reputation, her livelihood—and her chance of becoming the bride of the man whose passion has claimed her forever.

I loathe, loathe the mistaken identity theme. Mind you I knew what I was getting into before I read the book. But my reason for it reading the was the author. I love her books, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t be put off by the theme. My mistake. It bothered me a lot.

I found that the whole masquerade/mistaken identity in this book, was overly done. She could have told her secret at any point, in my opinion. But it continued until, well you guessed it, someone recognized her, and then the crap hit the fan. Excuse my language! It really just ticks me off…. Argh! As if we couldn’t see that one coming.

Oh well, my mistake. I should have gone with my gut feeling. Avoid mistaken identities and masquerades at all costs!

I wonder if I’ll listen to my own advice?!

The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount by Julia London (3/5) Historical Romance; Published: Pocket Books (10/2007); Series: # 3, Desperate Debutantes Trilogy; 100 + Reading Challenge (73); Library book;

I know...

I know my cat loves me, but did he really have to give me mouse as a present?

J and I woke up with Bobo playing on our bed, nothing unusual in that. He sleeps with us and it's his usual morning ritual. But he was making different sounds, and it felt like he was playing with a toy. Bobo does not like cat toys, ummmm,red flag. It was a mouse! Yuck!

It's really creeping me out!

I Love Your Blog!

I start off my day by checking my favorite blogs, and wasn't it my surprise to find my name on Ana's blog. Thank you, my friend. It was a wonderful surprise and you made my day, heck, you made my week!

Here are the directions for this award:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

And my nominations are:

Lauren from Baseballs & Bows

Ana from Bola de Berlin

Teena in Toronto from It's All About Me!

Rosie from Nobody Asked Me

Kristie (J) & Katiebabs from Rambling's On Romance

Mad from RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk

Jennifer from Snapshot

I take different things from all these blogs. Some make me laugh, some make me think and contemplate, some make me look out differently, some make me spend money on books (which I don't mind at least), all are beautiful and entertaining. And thank you for being around and sharing your day with me.